Hydraulic jig for correction of mis-alignment

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic jig for correction of mis-alignment wherein the jig proper is provided with arms having hydraulic jack, columns and the like, so that said hydraulic jack is actuated along the columns which serve as the guides, from both sides of a joint for correction of mis-alignment.

United States Patent Une et a].

HYDRAULIC .IlG FOR CORRECTION OF MlS-ALIGNMENT inventors: Tatuyuki Une, Hiroshima;

Akira Kamata, Tokyo, both of Japan Assignee: lshikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha 81 Kabushiki Kaisha Osaka Jack Seisakusho, Tokyo, Japan Filed: May 20, 1974 App]. No.: 471,577

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 227,905, Feb. 22, 1972, abandoned.

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 23, 1971 Japan 46-10802 US. Cl. 29/200 J; 228/4; 228/44.1 Int. Cl B23k 1/00 [451 Jul 8,1975

[58] Field of 228/4, 5, 6, 44; 29/200 P, 29/200 J, 493, 200 R, 200 A, 203 P, 203 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,120,316 4/1937 Stone 228/5 3,647,131 3/1972 Hahne 228/6 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 652,465 2/1935 Gennany 2213/44 Primary ExaminerDonald G. Kelly Assistant ExaminerMargaret M. Joyce Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Scrivener Parker Scrivener &. Clarke [57] ABSTRACT A hydraulic jig for correction of mis-alignment wherein the jig proper is provided with arms having hydraulic jack, columns and the like, so that said hydraulic jack is actuated along the columns which serve as the guides, from both sides of a joint for correction of mis-alignment.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATEf-HEHJUL 8 ms SHEET 2 BF 2 llwql WITH? 1 HYDRAULIC .IIG FOR CORRECTION OF MIS-ALIGNMENT This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 227,905 filed Feb. 22, 1972, now abandoned.

Recently the large and larger vessels are constructed so that erection of hull blocks with the conventional hammers and wedges becomes extremely difficult. This is true for structures other than vessels.

In the conventional welding. a large number of misalignment correction pieces are required. Therefore the cost becomes very high, and a long time is required to attach the pieces. Furthermore, welding rods and electric power are consumed in large quantity, and after the joints are welded, the pieces must be removed, and the spots at which the pieces are attached must be finished.

The present invention was made to overcome these problems, and provides a hydraulic jig for correction of mis-alignment characterized in that a jig proper is provided with a groove adapted to receive and support therein a member to be joined, and a plurality of vertically-spaced-apart pairs of arms, each pair being opposed across said groove; and said jig proper further carries a plurality of hydraulic jacks mounted on said plurality of pairs of arms respectively, and a plurality of columns or the like attached to said plurality of pairs of arms for preventing the eccentric load from being exerted to said plurality of hydraulic jacks, whereby said plurality of hydraulic jacks can exert the pressures to the joint between the members to be joined.

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the jig of the present invention applied to the joining process of deck longitudinals.

FIG. I is a top view of a hydraulic jig for correction of mis-alignment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a view used to explain the locations of deck longitudinal in a vessel.

A U-shaped groove is formed at the center of the upper surface of a jig proper 2 to facilitate the insertion and holding of a deck longitudinal 1. Two pairs of upper and lower arms 3 are disposed on both sides of the U-shaped groove in opposed and vertically spaced apart relation with each other. Each arm 3 carries a 2-ton hydraulic jack 4 with its working rod directed inwardly. A supporting member 5 having a center cavity is attached to the free ends of the rods of the jacks 4. On both sides of each jack 4 are slidably disposed columns 6 whose one ends are fixed to the supporting member 5, whereas the other ends are bolted to a stop per 7. A spring 8 is loaded between the stopper 7 and the arm 3, so that the jack 4 is actuated against the force of the spring 8. Reference numeral 9 designates a holder placed in the cavity of the supporting member 5; 10, an upper deck plate; 11, a longitudinal bulkhead; 12, a shell plating; and I3, a bottom.

To align the joints of the deck longitudinals l, the jig is lifted to insert one of the deck longitudinals I into the groove at the center of the jig proper 2. Thereafter the center of the backing plate 9 in the supporting member 5 is aligned with the center line of the joint. The rods of the opposing hydraulic jacks 4 are actuated against the spring 8 by the guide of column 6 to correct the mis-alignment. Thereafter, welding is started using the backing strips 9 by for example a CBS welding machine.

When it is desired to align a plurality of deck longitudinals in one operation, a plurality ofjigs of the present invention are lifted by a lift, and the hydraulic jacks 4 are actuated in the manner described above.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and that various modifications and variations can be effected within the scope of the present invention. For example. the jig of the present invention may be used for welding structures other than vessels.

As described above, in the hydraulic jig for correction of mis-alignment, the hydraulic jacks may be actu ated along the columns, which serve as the guides, from both sides of the joint for correction of mis-alignment. Therefore, no eccentric loads are exerted to the hydraulic jacks, and the twisting of the jig proper can be prevented. Thus, the mis-alignment correction operation can be accomplished smoothly because no exces sive loads are exerted on the jig. Furthermore the safeguarded, efficient and simple mis-alignment correction operation can be ensured within a short time.

What is claimed is:

l. A hydraulically operated apparatus for the alignment and the holding of the terminal edges of a pair of elongated workpieces that are to be welded together, characterized by a transportable jig provided with a U- shaped groove for receiving and supporting said workpieces, a pair of vertically spaced arms disposed on the vertical sides of said U-shaped groove, said arms extending beyond the terminal area of said workpieces and in spaced normal relationship to the sides of said workpieces and on either side thereof, each of said arms being provided with a hydraulic jack having a supporting member positioned to overlie the joint between the free edges of said workpieces. a pair of columns, each of said columns being connected between one of the pairs of said vertically spaced arms at the supporting member and cooperating with each jack for preventing application thereto of eccentric loads during operation of said jacks to align the joint.

2. A hydraulically operated transportable apparatus for the alignment and the holding of the terminal edges of a pair of vertically arranged plates that are to be butt welded together, characterized by a jig having a U- shaped frame provided with a pair of spaced-apart portions defining a recess for receiving a terminal part of one of said plates, each of said portions being provided with a pair of vertically spaced arms extending normal to the sides of the plates and overlying the terminal edges of the plates, each of said arms being provided with a hydraulic jack, a supporting member affixed to each of said hydraulic jacks for engaging opposite surfaces of said plates, the inner face of each supporting member having a vertically extending groove therein, and a holding member disposed in said groove, said holding member also being provided with a vertically extending groove in its inner face. 

1. A hydraulically operated apparatus for the alignment and the holding of the terminal edges of a pair of elongated workpieces that are to be welded together, characterized by a transportable jig provided with a U-shaped groove for receiving and supporting said workpieces, a pair of vertically spaced arms disposed on the vertical sides of said U-shaped groove, said arms extending beyond the terminal area of said workpieces and in spaced normal relationship to the sides of said workpieces and on either side thereof, each of said arms being provided with a hydraulic jack having a supporting member positioned to overlie the joint between the free edges of said workpieces, a pair of columns, each of said columns being connected between one of the pairs of said vertically spaced arms at the supporting member and cooperating with each jack for preventing application thereto of eccentric loads during operation of said jacks to align the joint.
 2. A hydraulically operated transportable apparatus for the alignment and the holding of the terminal edges of a pair of vertically arranged plates that are to be butt welded together, characterized by a jig having a U-shaped frame provided with a pair of spaced-apart portions defining a recess for receiving a terminal part of one of said plates, each of said portions being provided with a pair of vertically spaced arms extending normal to the sides of the plates and overlying the terminal edges of the plates, each of said arms being provided with a hydraulic jack, a supporting member affixed to each of said hydraulic jacks for engaging opposite surfaces of said plates, the inner face of each supporting member having a vertically extending groove therein, and a holding member disposed in said groove, said holding member also being provided with a vertically extending groove in its inner face. 